Outdoor Mold Allergy - Symptoms and Preventing Tips

Molds are everywhere, especially in rainy seasons. Wet, damp, and musty conditions are the most ideal for mold to thrive. Upsettingly the mold can also give you an allergy. Yes, you heard it right! Mold and mildew are nothing but fungi. During pollination, their "seeds," commonly known as spores, become airborne. While some spread quickly, some spores take a while before spreading, until the weather is dry and windy. Inhaling these spores can cause allergic reactions. There's no specific place and time to look out for them as fungi grow both indoors and outdoors, so allergic reactions can occur year-round. Although there are many types of molds, only a few cause allergic reactions. Mold often grows on rotting logs and fallen leaves, grasses, and weeds. Unlike pollens, molds do not die they simply become inactive during the winter. Indoors, fungi grow in wet & damp areas such as a bathroom, kitchen, or basement.

The outdoor allergy symptoms are very similar to outdoor mold allergy symptoms such as:

• Sneezing
• Itching
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Dry scaling skin

When mold spores are inhaled, they can cause hay fever symptoms. In some cases, it also reaches the lungs and triggers asthma. Although sometimes an allergic reaction occurs straight away, other times it takes a while for an outdoor mold allergy to show any symptoms, such as nasal congestion or worsening asthma. Symptoms may continue if you are still in contact with the damp or moldy room like a basement/bathroom. Chances are you may have a mold allergy. Very rarely, mold allergy can lead to serious health complications. Food fungi, like mushrooms, dried fruit, or foods containing yeast, vinegar, or soy sauce, usually don't trigger symptoms in the nose, eyes, and lungs. It's more likely to trigger reactions straight in the blood. For instance, fermented foods (like wine) contain a substance known as histamine. Histamine is also a chemical released by your body during an allergic reaction. Often foods that contain histamines may trigger allergy-like responses when consumed.

How to prevent outdoor mold allergy?

There are no cures for allergies. But you can successfully manage the symptoms by avoiding contact with the mold spores. Here are some simple steps that'll help in managing them:

• Limiting your outdoor activities always helps, especially when mold counts are high. This will not only lessen the number of mold spores you inhale but will prevent any outdoor mold allergy symptoms.
• If you are doing any gardening work such as cutting grass, digging around plants, picking up leaves, wear a dust mask to keep the allergens at bay, or ask someone to help you with the task.

Although these are great ways to prevent/limit your exposure to the mold, it is not absolutely certain.

• Avoiding contact is the first step. If you fail to do so seek medical attention immediately.
• Taking medications is advisable for nasal congestion or other allergic symptoms. Antihistamines and nasal sprays are some of the over the counter medications available in the market.

If you have allergic asthma, seek medical attention, and work out a plan with your doctor on which medications suit you best. Your doctor may also suggest allergy shots as they are more efficient in reducing the symptoms.

I have a strong interest in writing articles and blogs related to fitness, health diseases. In my free time, I love to play chess and listening to music.